NCAAF TITLE CHASERS
By: Mr. East
Here we are a week before the great pumpkin makes its anual appearance, and our ever shrinking list of unbeatens has dropped to just 7. It offers hope for 1 loss teams, as this list shrinks, the opportunity to play in the title game becomes more and more of a reality with each passing week. There are still 2 Cinderella hopefuls, but one will be tested severely this week, will they survive? Let's take a look at this weeks action.
LOUISVILLE (2-4) @ CINCINNATI (6-0) The Ville, once a top program on the National scene, has taken a hit since the departure of Bobby Petrino. The Bearcats only problem here is the liklihood of QB Tony Pike missing this one with an arm injury, but I think the Cats still have many advantages on both sides of the ball, and should remain unbeaten.
UPSET POTENTIAL: SMALL+ TENNESSEE (3-3) @ ALABAMA (7-0) The Tide did all they could to hand the game to South Carolina last week, with 4 turnovers, but the defense is so good, they still only allowed 6 points to the Ganecocks. Vols offense behind Crompton, not likely to find much room here, Tide rolls.
UPSET POTENTIAL: ALMOST NONE IOWA (7-0) @ MICHIGAN ST. (4-3) Could be a tough game here for the Hawkeyes off a big win at Wisconsin. Michigan St. owns wins vs Michigan, and played the Irish and Badgers to the wire. Hawkeyes have one constant, and that is a swarming defense, and as long as Stanzi doesn't complete several to the wrong jerseys Hawkeyes should survive. No look ahead here so should be focused.
UPSET POTENTIAL: MEDIUM- TCU (6-0) @ BYU (6-1) This will be a very difficult spot for the Frogs. Cougars only blemish to the Noles, in a no-show, but rest assured they will show up for this one. If the Frogs survive here, they have one more stumbling block left on the schedule, but that is at home vs Utah. Very difficult spot:
UPSET POTENTIAL: HIGH FLORIDA (6-0) @ MISS ST. (3-4) The Gators are not the same explosive offense we saw last year, but with Teboe generating 324 of 391 yards vs Arkansas, the Gators have to get something more out of their offense, but for this one, it will be plenty.
UPSET POTENTIAL: EXTREMELY LOW TEXAS (6-0) @ MISSOURI (4-2) It wasn't pretty, but the Horns got it done vs the Sooners. The biggest risk in this one, is themselves. If they come out flat, the Tigers can give them a run for their money, and the Horns aren't out of the woods yet, with a few toughies left, but have the talent, and control their own destiny, because if they run the table, they will be in the Title game, and without any surprises, they would play the winner of the Alabama/Florida SEC Championship game. UPSET
POTENTIAL: SMALL+ BOISE ST. (6-0) @ HAWAII (2-4) Hawaii has been the Broncos biggest threat, but not this year, the Warriors just lost their top reciever, and just don't have the firepower to hang with the Broncos this year, on the island or not.
UPSET POTENTIAL: If the Broncos lose there ought to be an investigation! There's the look atop the NCAAF Title chasers, and as usual, the list is likely to shrink next week, where we might be down to 5, or 6. Hope your season is going well, and if your looking for some help, my 89-63 mark a year ago, and 37-21 mark so far this year, leave me at 126-84 over 2 years, and I'd be glad to offer some solid thoughts on a weekly basis. Until next week, when the last of the leaves have fallen, despite the early October snowfalls here in New England.